By The Baseball Beginnings Guy
July 11, 2012
Tyler Gonzales is a guy I saw once, and here he is. You may draw your own scouting conclusions. The Jays like to go to the high school casino and see what shakes loose. House money.
By The Baseball Beginnings Guy
February 7, 2012
Marisnick in the day (Photo: Baseball Beginnings)
I have this mental image of Jake Marisnick playing high school ball. It’s a hot day in Norco in 2009 and there are a ton of scouts in to see Marisnick and Hobgood. I don’t remember all the specifics, but I remember Marisnick, at various points, beating out an infield hit, stealing second, stealing third and scoring on a sacrifice fly.
You had to like him because he was graceful and athletic and had the ability to make it look easy, but he also had that country boy work ethic honed from working hard in the sun. As Casey Stengel would say, “I ain’t got no time for no Cherry Pies.”
Now, that’s a subtle plug for “Bushville Wins,” my next book, but it’s also a solid plug for Marisnick. The guy signed late, took his lumps as a young pro, and then blossomed in 2011 in the Midwest League. Cherry Pies don’t last long in the Midwest League, where the weather sucks, the ballparks are huge, and the bus rides also stink. My stopwatch on the desk just beeped in an unsolicited fashion, so I know I’m right.
We caught up with Jake, who a long time ago was called Jacob, before he packed it up and headed to Florida. Sit back, and enjoy yet another example of yours truly, John Klima, getting to the heart of what makes a young ballplayer tick. And then watch Marisnick go hit in 2012 and beyond which, on the bright side, will help soften the blow for the Blue Jays when Kris Bryant blossoms at the big league level in the coming years. Hey, you could try to find somebody else to do what I do, but good luck finding a guy who can speak baseball to baseball players and gets the same respect in return.
By The Baseball Beginnings Guy
July 13, 2011
Tyler Beede was the 21st overall pick in the 2011 Draft by the Toronto Blue Jays. Take a look at this last bit of video we have from his high school career.
By Jen Marder
June 8, 2011
The Toronto Blue Jays selected Daniel Norris in the 2nd round (74overall) in the 2011 MLB Draft. Baseball Beginnings has been scouting Norris from the start of the draft cycle. Enjoy links to the content we have published on him through the year.
Read Daniel Norris Q&A
Watch Daniel Norris Video
Watch more Daniel Norris Video
Read Daniel Norris Scouting Report
By Jen Marder
June 6, 2011
Today the Toronto Blue Jays selected Kevin Comer in the supplemental round (#57overall) in the 2011 MLB Draft. Baseball Beginnings has been scouting Comer from the start of the draft cycle. Enjoy links to the content we have published on him through the year.
Watch Kevin Comer Video
By Jen Marder
June 6, 2011
Today the Toronto Blue Jays selected Joe Musgrove in the supplemental round (#46 overall) in the 2011 MLB Draft. Baseball Beginnings has been scouting Musgrove from the start of the draft cycle. Enjoy links to the content we have published on him through the year.
Watch Joe Musgrove Video
By Jen Marder
June 6, 2011
Today the Toronto Blue Jays selected Jacob Anderson in the supplemental round (#35 overall) in the 2011 MLB Draft. Baseball Beginnings has been scouting Anderson from the start of the draft cycle. Enjoy links to the content we have published on him through the year.
Watch Jacob Anderson Video
By Jen Marder
June 6, 2011
Today the Toronto Blue Jays selected Tyler Beede in the 1st round (#21 overall) in the 2011 MLB Draft. Baseball Beginnings has been scouting Beede from the start of the draft cycle. Enjoy links to the content we have published on him through the year.
Watch Tyler Beede Video
Read Summer 2010 Tyler Beede Scouting Update
Watch 2009 Tyler Beede Video
By The Baseball Beginnings Guy
November 20, 2010
Kris Bryant: long and loose right-handed body, I had a fresh look recently.
Bryant’s tool is right-handed power, but he’s going to have to adjust to the new world order where nobody is going to throw this guy a fastball for the next three years of his life. And probably, realistically speaking, it’ll be more than three years. He’s got the same bat speed I always liked at the 2009 Area Codes and in the Summer 2010. Bryant actually has a pretty good idea of the strike zone, though sometimes I wonder if that might get confused with a lack of aggressiveness.
By The Baseball Beginnings Guy
September 11, 2010
The Blue Jays had nine picks in the first three rounds. That means it was a make-or-break draft for the next several years, regardless of whatever they say in public.
